Barber is not underrated, Giants fans

I don't think so, but many Giants seem to have made this their rallying cry for the hard-nosed running back, who has been the best player on the team the last two years.

It's not good enough that the Giants are in first place in their division and that Barber has rushed for 1,577 yards and eight touchdowns. The fans find it insulting that Barber hasn't garnered more national headlines.

Who cares!

Does it really matter if Barber is on the front page of
USA Today
or if SportsCenter does a five-minute segment on his life with the Giants? No.

If you watched any football the past couple of years you know that Barber has put up numbers similar to the top backs in the league, which means he is among the best backs in the NFL.

Barber enjoyed one of his best days in a Giant uniform last week against the Chiefs when he rushed for a team-record 220 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries. Enjoy the win, Giants fans and hope it continues today agains the Redskins.

The real credit, however, will come when the Giants start winning playoff games. If that is going to happen, Barber will have to lead the way and maybe then Barber will get more of the limelight to appease his fans.

But please, stop complaining about a lack of respect for poor Tiki and what his perception is around the country.

Last week: 6-7

Overall: 111-102-2

New York Giants
(+3) at
Washington Redskins
: Everybody is going
Tiki Barber
-crazy in Giantland and he deserves the kudos after last week. The Redskins will find a way to pay back New York for the whipping it put on them earlier this year. REDSKINS.

Buffalo Bills (+13½) at
Cincinnati Bengals
: The Bengals keep rolling and are looking to make some noise in the playoffs. The Bills are beginning to wish the
Drew Bledsoe
era was back. BENGALS.

Pittsburgh Steelers at
Cleveland Browns
(+7): The Steelers surprised me by dominating the Vikings last week. Pittsburgh will run wild over Cleveland. STEELERS.

San Diego Chargers (+1) at
Kansas City Chiefs
: The Chargers are riding high after beating the Colts. The Chiefs are still in shock from two straight losses to the Cowboys and Giants. CHARGERS.

Tennessee Titans (+5½) at
Miami Dolphins
:
Nick Saban
has the Dolphins playing well after a difficult start. This may turn out to be a very entertaining game even if it doesn't have any playoff implications. DOLPHINS.

Jacksonville Jaguars at
Houston Texans
(+6): This may just be a 49ers fan looking to get closer to the top draft, but I think the Texans may pull off the upset today. The Texans will at least keep it close. TEXANS.

Detroit Lions (+3) at
New Orleans Saints
: This is a brutal game. I think both teams should be given the week off so the players can get more hugs from their families. SAINTS.

Dallas Cowboys (+5) at
Carolina Panthers
: The Panthers get to put the holiday fork in the Cowboys playoff hopes. It was a beautiful sight watching
Bill Parcells
squirm on the sideline during last week's lopsided loss to the Redskins. PANTHERS.

San Francisco 49ers (+9) at
St. Louis Rams
: It may be too tough for the 49ers to play well two straight weeks. The Rams still have the ability to play well on turf. RAMS.

Philadelphia Eagles (+1) at
Arizona Cardinals
: The Eagles have fallen far from last year's Super Bowl run. The Eagles should be able to score enough points on defense to beat the Cardinals. EAGLES.

Indianapolis Colts (+6) at
Seattle Seahawks
: The Colts' magic went away last week. The Seahawks are still trying to make people believe in them. SEAHAWKS.

Oakland Raiders (+13) at
Denver Broncos
: The Raiders will get embarrassed against their rivals. The Broncos continue to play well with
Jake Plummer
leading the way. BRONCOS.

Chicago Bears at
Green Bay Packers
(+3): I did really well with picking the Packers last Monday night against the Ravens. I turned the game on in the fourth quarter and the Packers were only losing 41-3. BEARS.

Minnesota Vikings at
Baltimore Ravens
(+3): The Ravens' offense must be tired after torching Green Bay last week. The Vikings should be able to win a low-scoring game. VIKINGS.

New England Patriots at
New York Jets
(+3½): The Patriots' bandwagon is beginning to get crowded again after their dismantling of the Buccaneers. Meanwhile, let me know if you have seen the Jets' bandwagon. PATRIOTS.